Sharing title like sharing your girlfriend

IU and Ohio State are the most friendly teams in the Big Ten.\nSomebody give them a "golden star" -- their mommies taught them well.\nIt would have been so easy for them just to play the type of basketball that positioned them to win the conference title outright, but they knew better. They've been spanked by their parents enough for being selfish, and they understand that the good people of Illinois and Wisconsin appreciate their generosity.\nImagine the spectacle. Four, maybe six Big Ten schools pick an evening and set their watches. It will be a landmark event. On the same night, at the same time -- the proud schools raise their conference championship banners on closed caption television. Referee crew Ed Hightower, Art McDonald and Donnee Gray, who have given Big Ten players, coaches and fans so much to talk about this season, will present each team a trophy. Tears will fill Mike Davis' eyes as he reflects. Parties will erupt throughout the Midwest.\nIU junior guard Kyle Hornsby said after the Illinois game that finishing the season tied for first takes a little "luster" away from the accomplishment. \nAbsolutely, but you're still a Big Ten champion. Right?\nI mean, you wouldn't mind sharing your girlfriend with four other guys? "Oh man, I just wasn't good enough to get her all for myself," you would rationalize.\nOf course not. Celebrating the title with two, three or four other teams reduces some of its meaning, especially for the Hoosiers. Illinois should be grateful if it comes away with a share of the title. The Illini spent the majority of their days working hard to stay alive in the conference and their nights in front of ESPN praying for conference foes to fall on their face. Wisconsin has three weak road losses at Penn State, Northwestern and Michigan. But nine days ago the Badgers defeated Iowa to extend an improbably winning streak to five -- then sat on the couch and watched the conference pieces fall into place like a computer nerd's Tetris blocks.\n But the IU free fall has been painful, both literally and figuratively. \n The teeth marks on Mike Davis' mouth have to be painful. He must have infections in those cuts after biting his lip after every bad call his team endures. I know his wallet still hurts from the Butler loss. Senior Jared Jeffries' ankle is still throbbing, but the real pain comes from watching his name get scratched off the conference player of the year trophy. There's Tom Coverdale's shooting struggles and Dane Fife's offense, which was so prolific early in the season but has drifted back into mediocrity.\nA 10-5 record in the Big Ten is nothing to complain about, and although it is not ideal, a share of the Big Ten title is also impressive. But the way IU has played "Jeckyl and Hyde" basketball is most troubling. IU shocked the conference and played with unmatched confidence early in the season.\nThen sputtered miserably down the stretch by not winning any important road games and dropping a heartbreaker to Wisconsin at home.\nAnd still, with a couple of (near impossible) scenarios materializing this weekend, IU could find themselves alone at the top of the conference or tied with one other team, assuming the Hoosiers will handle upstart Northwestern Saturday.\nA loss this weekend would be heartbreaking for the players and fans who have watched an underrated team rise to the top of the standings for most of the season. \nBecause of the great things the team has done early in the conference season, a tie for the championship, although an outstanding achievement, would lose some of its luster.\nBut watching Tuesday's officiating crew give a ceremonial speech at the end of the season.\nNow that would be truly painful.